Here is our second Members contribuition from Tom Zuijdwegt of the Netherlands! Tom writes about getting started in modelling and what his main interests are. Thank you Tom! Hopefully we will hear from more members like you!

I’ve been building models since I’vs been 10 years old, centered on WW2 aircraft in 1/72 and 1/48. After trying to build everything and failing I specialized further into early jets and late props. I find the transition in design from the piston to the jet engine fascinating and have collected a lot of material about this period.

This led to an interest in the German designs of the end of the war which opened up a whole spectrum of new possibilities. I started with the Luftwaffe 46 models by Unicraft of Ukraine when he still was making very crude vacu-formed kits also known as "Igor’s burnt offerings". From this I continued with Airmodel resin kits and many other manufacturers. The rising popularity of the Luft46 theme caused me to rethink my goal to build every Luft46 produced and I norrowed down my field to jet aircraft up until 1946 that actually flew or were at least at an advanced stage of design.

After reading some books on WW2 midget submarines I started building some models of those as you can see on this page.

I’ve always loved to speculate about what might have been. I’m a big fan of the Harry Turtledove books and other alternative history stories. I apply some of these ideas in my models by building existing aircraft in fictional markings. Some of these you can see on my web site: http://www.xs4all.nl/~tozu/index.htm

Model and photo by Tom Zuijdwegt

C.S.S. Hunley Cottage Industry Models

The Hunley was the first operational submarine and was used by the Confederate States in the American civil war. It was sunk in 1864. The model was made on the basis of surviving drawings and paintings of the submarine before the wreck was found in 2000. This means that the model is not completely accurate. The kit is very complete with etched parts and brass and aluminium rods. The cast iron detail on the hull is a bit on the heavy side but all in all it builds into a nice model.

Cottage Industry Models also do a 1/24 resin kit of the Hunley. Complete with interior details.

Model and photo by Tom Zuijdwegt

H.M.S. Chariot Choroszy Modelbud

Model and photo by Tom Zuijdwegt

Polish Suicide Torpedo Choroszy Modelbud

The range of kits by Chorozdy Modelbud has a nice selction of 1/72 submarines and manned torpedo’s. The kits are nicely crafted and come with etched brass details and some very small resin parts. Taking in account the size of the kits, the prices are rather high however.

Model and photo by Tom Zuijdwegt

Kriegsmarine Grundhai "Shark" Unicraft Models

This is a very simple resin kit of this experimental German submarine which was able to crawl over the ocean floor with its tracks. As far as I know only vague sketches survive of this submarine and it is even unclear if a prototype was finished or not. It is therefore impossible to say whether this kit is accurate or not. It is a simple build with only a very limited number of parts.

Model and photo by Tom Zuijdwegt

H.M.S. X-Craft Pit Road

This is a very beautiful resin kit of the British X-Craft mini submarine. The detail on the hull is very well done and looks wonderful when finished. Being a submarine kit, there aren’t many parts but what there is, is good. This kit is hard to find these days but one can be found on eBay from time to time.

These are two models by Bird-Models from Germany, the Messerschmitt ME-155B and the Messerschmitt P-1091 II, both in 1/72. The Me-155 was a high altitude aircraft not to be confused by the Me-155A carrier fighter. It was the precursor of the Blohm & Voss BV-155 fighter.

Model and photo by Tom Zuijdwegt

Messerschmitt Me-155B Bird Models

The P-1091 II was the ultimate Me-109 high altitude fighter with a very long span and fuselage.

Model and photo by Tom Zuijdwegt

Messerschmitt P-109 1 II Bird Models

These models are very crude castings which require a lot of work. There are a lot of airbubbles to fill. The vacu-formed canopies are all but unusable and the fit of the parts is awfull. Still, after all this work they make up into two very striking Me-109 variants.

Model and photo by Tom Zuijdwegt

Mikoyan-Gureyvich I-250 Omega Models

This is one of the two Russian mixed powered fighters from the late forties, the other one being the Sukhoi Su-5. This kit by Omega Models has nice exterior details and a good fit. The cockpit is very bare however and doesn’t show much beside a rough pilots chair and a blank instrument panel. Much room for improvement there if you want.

Model and photo by Tom Zuijdwegt

Super Marine F.1 Attacker Magna Models

A nice kit by the UK Manufacturer Magna Models. It is nicely detailed on the outside but has a rather basic cockpit interior. This is one of the earlier Magna kits. Later ones have more details.

Model and photo by Tom Zuijdwegt

KriegsmarineBiber "Beaver" HP Models

Model and photo by Tom Zuijdwegt

Kriegsmarine Hecht "Pike" HP Models

Model and photo by Tom Zuijdwegt

Kriegsmarine Molch "Salamander" HP Models

The Biber, Hecht and Molch are kits from a series of 1/72 mini subs by the German manufacturer HP-Models. Other kits in the series are the Hai, Seehund and Marder. HP-Models have an extensive range of 1/700 resin ships but these are the only 1/72 ones they did a few years ago. The kits are nicely cast but rather simple. There are few parts and construction is very straightforward.

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